Portable collapsible wash basin

ABSTRACT

A portable collapsible wash basin wash basin is disclosed. The wash basin includes a flexible bag, wherein the bag with sidewalls defines an open end and a closed end and the sidewalls define two sidewall openings, an absorbent material, and a dry sheet soap.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This non-provisional patent application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 62/846,725, filed May 12, 2019 and U.S. provisional application No. 62/882,485, filed Aug. 3, 2019, the subject matter of each of the above referenced disclosures is expressly incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD

This disclosure is directed to a foldable wash basin to address the need for bedside handwashing when certain illnesses are not properly addressed with other methods. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an accessible wash basin for independent patient hand hygiene. The wash basin includes a foldable wash basin may be placed near or besides the patient's bed. The wash basin is capable of removing germs and contaminants from hands eliminating recurrent infections or contamination. Germs include such things as microorganisms, viruses, disease producing bacteria, and parasites.

BACKGROUND

Simple handwashing can prevent recurrent infections and the spread of infections throughout a hospital. Health-care providers currently use a portable wash basin that requires filling, prior to wheeling the wash basin to a designated location, and draining, after usage. This current method is time-consuming and can be eliminated from the busy routine at hospitals by using a wash basin that allows bedridden patients to easily wash their hands by themselves.

Summers et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,236,771) and Slayton (U.S. Pat. No. 8,117,689 B1) each disclosed a portable disposable basin apparatus that include a wheeled cart for carrying the wash basin to a designated area. Both wash basins are designed for servicing patients because they require filling of the wash basin beforehand. Summers does not disclose a lid or a drain pipe for the wash basin, which makes lifting the basin after usage very difficult, increasing chances of spillage. Slayton discloses a lid and a drain pipe, which solves the problem of spillage and health-care providers lower back pain, but the issue of optimizing staff time by allowing patients to carry out simple self-care remains.

A portable disposable wash basin is disclosed by Patterson (US 2004/0148697 A1). Patterson discloses a lid, for covering the wash basin, and a pump, for pumping fresh water from a container adjacent to the basin. Both the lid and the pump can become an obstacle for some patients to use the sink by themselves which may require assistance of health-care providers for the simple task of washing patient's hands.

SUMMARY

Wheeling carts, even when collapsible, occupy space at already crowded conditions of hospitals. The present disclosure provides a wash basin that is able to stand alone by patient's bed.

The present disclosure provides a structure and mechanism allowing instant hand-access.

Therefore, it is primary feature of present disclosure to provide a portable foldable stand-alone wash basin that overcomes the problems associated with prior art arrangements.

In one aspect of the disclosure, a portable collapsible wash basin wash basin for independent patient use is disclosed. The portable collapsible wash basin comprising a foldable bag, wherein the bag with sidewalls defining an open end and a closed end and the sidewalls defining two openings for hand accessibility, an absorbent material, and a dry sheet soap.

In another aspect of the disclosure, a frame assembly including a rod assembly, a lid and a funnel, wherein the rod assembly is comprised of a plurality of rods and a plurality of connectors, wherein the wash basin is supported by the rod assembly, and wherein the lid and the funnel are supported by the rod assembly and are located over the open end of the bag.

In another aspect of the disclosure, the bag is supported by the rod assembly by use of clips or couplers.

In a further aspect of the disclosure, a method of use of the wash basin 1 comprising the steps of providing the wash basin to a patient while the patient is in bed, placing the absorbent material in a bag of the wash basin, placing the dry sheet soap inside the bag of the wash basin, and providing water through a lid of the frame assembly, wherein the user places hands through sidewall openings in order to wash and rinse the user's hands.

In a further aspect of the disclosure, a method of use of the wash basin comprises the additional step of locating the wash basin on the patient's bedside table.

In a further aspect of the disclosure, a method of use of the wash basin comprises the additional step of removing the bag with the absorbent material and the sheet soap from the frame assembly and disposing of the bag with the absorbent material and the sheet soap.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned and other features of this disclosure, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the disclosure itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the disclosure taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the bag of the wash basin according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the frame assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the rod assembly of the frame assembly of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bag of the wash basin of FIG. 1 being located within the rod assembly of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5A is a top perspective view of the lid and funnel of the frame assembly of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5B is a perspective view of the bag with the adsorbent material and the sheet soap with the frame assembly of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the fully assembled wash basin with the frame assembly of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a partially exploded view of the fully assembled wash basin with the frame assembly of FIG. 2.

Unless otherwise stated, a reference to a compound or component includes the compound or component by itself, as well as in combination with other compounds or components, such as mixtures of compounds.

As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include the plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

All publications, patents and patent applications cited herein, whether supra or infra, are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Although the drawings represent embodiments of the present disclosure, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated in order to better illustrate and explain the present disclosure.

Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the specification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The embodiments disclosed below are not intended to be exhaustive or limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may utilize their teachings.

Bag 100 is a generally flexible container typically comprised of four sidewalls 102 of generally equal length and width that define an open end 104 and a closed end 106. Each of the four sidewalls 102 may include a flap 108. In this embodiment, two opposing sidewalls 102 define sidewall openings 110. As best illustrated in FIG. 1, the two sidewall openings are generally located in the middle of the length and in the middle of the width of the sidewalls. It is also envisioned that the sidewall openings may be located at other locations within the sidewalls. It is also envisioned that sidewall openings 110 may be located on the same sidewall 102 or on adjacent sidewalls 102 or any other combination of sidewalls 102. Closed end 106 may be closed by any method known in the art so long as the closed end is capable to retain a minimal amount of water, the adsorbent material and the sheet of soap (FIGS. 5B and 6).

Sidewall openings 110 are shown as a star shaped series of slits 112. It is envisioned that such slits and the corresponding remains 114 created by slits 112 minimize the amount of water which may escape the bag 100 during operation of the wash basin 10. Other shapes are envisioned especially shapes including remains 114 or some form of retention of the bag material to minimize the amount of water which may escape the bag during operation of the wash basin.

Bag 100 is preferably molded from a flexible food-grade material, such as plastics, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) without bisphenol A (BPA) and without Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), acrylic, or acrylic polymer. Bag 100 is preferably non-toxic and odorless. Bag 100 is collapsible. Bag provides support for up to 0.5 gallons of water but could be easily scaled up to hold more water if necessary.

Absorbent material 116 and sheet soap 118 may be located within bag 100 such as near closed end 106. Wash basin 10 includes Absorbent material 116 and a standard sheet soap 118 each located near closed end 106 of bag 100.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 2-7, wash basin 10 is supported by frame assembly 120. Frame assembly 120 is comprised of lid 122, funnel 124, clips 126 (FIG. 7), and rod assembly 128. As best illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, rod assembly 128 is comprised of a plurality of rods 130 and a plurality of connectors 132. In this embodiment, each connector 132 is pivotally coupled to an end of at least two rods 130. As illustrated in this embodiment all connectors 132 are the same shape with the same voids for connecting to rods 130. Each connector 132 may have a different orientation or a different number of rods 130 connected in order to create the rod assembly 128 as shown. However it is envisioned that multiple orientations or structures may accomplish the two primary goals of rod assembly 128.

First, rod assembly 128 provides support for bag 100, as best illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5B and 6. In an alternative it is envisioned that bag 100 may be made sturdy enough material to not require support from rod assembly 128.

Lid 122 and funnel 124 are best illustrated in FIG. 5A. Lid 122 includes top 134 and lips 136. Lid 122 defines depression 138 and apertures 140 through lid 122 wherein depression 138 and apertures 140 are in fluid communication. The apertures 140 are configured to create a shower-like effect when water is poured in depression 138 for hand washing.

As illustrated in this embodiment lid 122 defines depression 138 as square in horizontal cross section. It is envisioned that lid 122 may define a different shape for depression 138. As best illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 6, the bottom horizontal surface 142 of top 134 is supported by rod assembly 128. Lips 136, the bottom horizontal surface 142 of top 134, and the bottom vertical surface of lid 122 complimentary to depression 138 work together to create a bracket 144 to engage with the top row of horizontal rods 130 in rod assembly 128.

Funnel 124 are generally shown as square in cross section and configured to be located within and engage depression 138. It is envisioned that funnel 124 may a different shape in order to be located within or in order to engage an alternative embodiment of depression 138 having a different shape. It is also envisioned that lid 122 and funnel 124 may be combined into a single structure.

As best illustrated in FIG. 5B, flaps 108 are coupled to the top horizontal row of rods 130 of rod assembly 128 by clips 126. The generally square cross section of bag 100 corresponds to the generally square cross section of the top horizontal row of rod 130. In this embodiment, the two sidewall openings 110 are located on opposing sidewalls 102.

Rod assembly 128 provides user's hands access to sidewall openings 110, as best illustrated in FIGS. 5B and 6. FIGS. 5B and 6 seem to suggest user's hands access to bag 100 from longitudinal end openings 148 of rod assembly 128. However, it is envisioned that different sidewall opening configurations could be accommodated by different rod assembly configurations and different openings of rod assembly 128 to accommodate the user's hands. An additional goal of rod assembly 128 is to define a space for bag 100 without deforming bag 100.

Absorbent material 116 and sheet soap 118 may be added to bag 100 as configured in FIG. 5B before the addition of lid 122 and/or funnel 124.

FIG. 6 shows the fully assembled wash basin 10 as an embodiment of the disclosure. The fully assembled wash basin 10 is configured to be provided to a patient on their bedside table with each of the Absorbent material 116 and the dry sheet soap 118 placed in the bag 100 near the closed end 106.

In use, water is added by the user or another person assisting the user. Water may be added by any means, such as by way of a pitcher or bottle of water. Lid 122 with funnel 124 is configured to accept pp to 32 ounces of water at any moment.

The user's hand or hands are inserted into the sidewall openings 110 of the bag. The user washes hands utilizing the sheet of dry soap 118 provided in the bag 100. Water flows through the depression 138 and apertures 140 as the user scrubs hands with soap 118 and water. Remaining water rinses hands and is collected in absorbent pad 116 near the closed end 106 of the bag 100. Bag 100 is sealed and disposed of once hand washing is complete.

While this disclosure has been described as having an exemplary design, the present disclosure may be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the disclosure using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this disclosure pertains. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A portable collapsible wash basin comprising: a flexible bag, wherein the bag with sidewalls defines an open end and a closed end and the sidewalls define two sidewall openings, an absorbent material, and a dry sheet soap.
 2. The wash basin of claim 1 wherein the flexible bag defines four sidewalls of equal length and width, wherein two opposing sidewalls define the two sidewall openings, wherein the two sidewall openings are generally located in the middle of the length and in the middle of the width of the sidewalls.
 3. The wash basin of claim 1 wherein sidewall openings defined as a series of slits in bag.
 4. The wash basin of claim 3 wherein the corresponding remains created by slits minimize the amount of water which may escape the bag during operation of the wash basin.
 5. The wash basin of claim 1 further comprising a frame assembly including a rod assembly, a lid and a funnel, and a plurality of clips, wherein the flexible bag includes four flaps located adjacent to the open end of the bag, wherein each of the four flaps are clipped to the rod assembly by clips, wherein the bag is supported by the rod assembly.
 6. The wash basin of claim 5 wherein the rod assembly is comprised of a plurality of rods and a plurality of connectors, and wherein each connector is pivotally coupled to ends of at least two rods.
 7. The wash basin of claim 5 wherein the lid and the funnel are supported by the rod assembly and are located over the open end of the bag.
 8. The wash basin of claim 7 wherein lid includes top and lips, wherein lid defines depression and apertures through lid wherein depression and apertures are in fluid communication.
 9. The wash basin of claim 8 wherein the bottom horizontal surface of top is supported by rod assembly, and wherein lips, the bottom horizontal surface of top, and the bottom vertical surface of lid complimentary to depression form a bracket to engage with the top row of horizontal rods in rod assembly.
 10. The wash basin of claim 5 wherein the lid and funnel support up to 32 oz of water.
 11. The wash basin of claim 5 wherein the rod assembly suggests user's hands access bag from longitudinal end openings of rod assembly.
 12. The wash basin of claim 1 wherein the absorbent material and the dry sheet soap are each disposable and are each located in the bag near the closed end of the bag.
 13. The wash basin of claim 1 wherein the bag is molded from a flexible food-grade material, non-toxic and odorless.
 14. The wash basin of claim 1 wherein the bag is molded from plastics, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) without bisphenol A (BPA) and without Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), acrylic, or acrylic polymer.
 15. The wash basin of claim 1 wherein the bag supports up to 0.5 gallons of water.
 16. A method of use of a wash basin, the method comprising the steps of: providing a fully assembled wash basin to a user while the user is in bed, comprising the steps of: locating a flexible bag, an absorbent material, and a dry sheet soap, on the patient's bedside table, wherein the bag includes sidewalls, wherein the bag defines an open end and a closed end and the sidewalls define two sidewall openings, providing a rod assembly and supporting the flexible bag, the absorbent material, and the dry sheet soap by the rod assembly, providing a lid and funnel supported by the rod assembly to create the fully assembled wash basin, adding water to the lid and funnel while the user's hand is inserted through the sidewall opening, washing the user's hand utilizing the dry sheet soap, and rinsing the user's hand utilizing the shower-like effect of the water.
 17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of placing the absorbent material and the dry sheet soap in the bag near the closed end.
 18. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of discarding the bag, the absorbent material and the sheet soap. 